Prairie Medical Campus: Fast-Tracking Healthcare for a Growing Region

In rapidly expanding communities, infrastructure can struggle to keep pace. Healthcare is no exception.

In the Inland Northwest, areas between Coeur d’Alene and Spokane have grown quickly, making it harder for some residents to access care. The new Prairie Medical Campus in Post Falls, Idaho, is designed to change that, bringing critical healthcare services closer to where people live and work.

As structural engineer for the project, our team worked alongside an integrated design-build group from the outset to help deliver a resilient and efficient system aligned with the project’s ambitious schedule and long-term vision.

Developed through a partnership between MultiCare and Kootenai Health, the campus marks the first phase of a long-term vision to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the region. The initial phase features a three-story, 80,000-square-foot medical office building and a 30,000-square-foot hospital. Together, these facilities create a connected care environment designed to meet immediate needs while leaving room to grow with the community.

 

Moving Fast to Meet Community Needs

Recognizing the urgency, the project team adopted a progressive design-build approach. Planning, design, and permitting were completed in less than three (3) months, an impressive feat for a project of this type.

“Integrated BIM modeling with cloud access enabled seamless data handoffs between disciplines, while Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) allowed the team to identify and fix spatial conflicts in real time across architectural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing models,” shared Ana Perarnau, Structural Project Manager.

The team invested time during the Concept and Schematic Design phases to plan, meet in person, and discuss the design thoroughly. This upfront effort allowed work to hit full stride immediately as design began, rather than following a traditional ramp-up period. By following a collectively established design-build charter of values for adaptability and accountability, the team executed a pull plan efficiently. While changes arose from fluctuating lead times and evolving stakeholder input, these charter principles allowed impacts to be identified quickly and strategies to be adjusted in real time, making fast, coordinated progress possible for a project of this scale.

“Our structural team was ready to jump in from day one,” shared Matt Snook, Structural Principal. “We worked closely with CollinsWoerman (Architect), Bouten Construction (General Contractor), and our steel trade partners to keep the design flexible and responsive.” Real-time feedback from fabricators enabled the team to refine the structural system, adjust foundations, and simplify framing, thereby improving efficiency and constructability.

This level of coordination paid off. Despite the accelerated schedule, the project cleared City of Post Falls plan review with zero comments.

Left: Matt and Ana in action during a pull plan session.

Phase 1 of the Prairie Medical Campus isn’t just about today’s needs. Early decisions carefully support future expansions and keep the site flexible. Foundations along the north edge were detailed as flush ‘property line’ footings. By keeping the footing entirely inside the current phase’s column line, our team created a clean vertical interface for future buildings to connect directly without complex coordination.

In addition, the team used decision matrices to establish vibration criteria for the medical office building based on the latest Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) parameters, ensuring alignment across the team and anticipating future program changes. These early design choices support campus evolutions efficiently as community needs grow.

When the right partners align early, “fast-tracked” doesn’t have to mean “compromised.” The Prairie Medical Campus proves that integrated design-build teams can solve urgent infrastructure needs in record time. As construction kicks off this March, we’re proud to help establish a new standard for healthcare access in the region.

With offices in Spokane and Seattle, we are ready to support your community’s growth. Reach out to learn more.

Renderings courtesy of CollinsWoerman.